Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 37

His social interactions and attendance in school not only help him acquire formal education but also strengthened the family values that transformed them as his personal and social habits to interact with the external world. Some of these are: devotion to parents, importance of speaking the truth, ability to differentiate teachers and friends and treating wife as equal". He felt lack of teaching of religion in the school to help his quest for truth/self realization, and moral values as he had to learn the same elsewhere by experience.
However his family background, area he lived in, his spiritual power and results of past meritorious karmas made him quit all bad habits.
Thus Gandhi inherited three traits, namely; a successful negotiator and a good head for business; the art of public administration and familiarity with the problems of the state both from his father, and the spiritual practices with deep imprint of Jainism like shram (strenuous effort including fasting and self restraint) for self-realization, Ahimsa (nonviolence), Anekanta (non-absolutism), Aparigraha (non possession) from his mother primarily. He also learnt significance of the of three abstinences (not eating meat, not consuming alcohol and abstaining from sex with other women) essential in Jainism for a householder before leaving for England. (Appendices I for details)
More influential than is generally known, however, were the ideas and the living examples of the members of Jain faith whom Gandhi came to know as a boy and young man." The seeds of nivrtti (i.e. abstaining from worldly pleasures to lead ascetic life) rather than pravrtti (engagement) and shram/self effort were sown in the fertile mind of young Gandhi which will come handy to him to complete his education in England and selfrealization later.
Pg.14 Gandhi & Jainism